John Davies

John Harverd Davies (born 29 November 1957) is a British Anglican priest and theologian. From 2016 to 2023, he was the Dean of Wells, the priest first-among-equals at Wells Cathedral and the most senior priest in the Diocese of Bath and Wells. He had previously served as Dean of Derby from 2010 to 2016. He was educated at Brentwood School, a private school in Brentwood, Essex. He then undertook postgraduate studies at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and graduated with Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in 1982.

Ordained ministry Davies was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1984 and as a priest in 1985. From 1984 to 1987, he served his curacy at Church of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas, Liverpool in the Diocese of Liverpool. Then, between 1987 and 1990, he was an assistant curate at St John the Baptist Church, Peterborough, in the Diocese of Peterborough. as such, he was first-among-equals in the chapter of canons of Derby Cathedral and the most senior priest in the Diocese of Derby. In 2012, Davies undertook a sponsored abseil from the tower of Derby Cathedral to raise funds, both for the Cathedral and for the Padley Centre, a local charity providing help and support to the homeless and other socially disadvantaged people.

On 23 August 2016, it was announced that Davies would be the next Dean of Wells in the Diocese of Bath and Wells. On 20 November 2016, he was installed as Dean during a service at Wells Cathedral. His last service at the cathedral was the Feast of Candlemas on 2 February 2023, and he retired as dean on 6 January.

Honours On 1 June 2011, Davies was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) to the Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire.